Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Mint to Display Gold Space Coins
22-Karat Gold Sacagawea Dollars Flew Aboard Space Shuttle
The U.S. Mint will display the 12 gold proof Sacagawea Golden Dollars that flew aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in July 1999. The 12 gold versions of the circulating Golden Dollars will be unveiled at the American Numismatic Association's World's Fair of Money in Milwaukee, the largest coin show in the nation. Until now, the gold "space coins" have been stored at Fort Knox. They've never been seen in public, and similar gold coins were never sold, making them extremely rare. Although the coins' value has not been established, they are very unique as historic artifacts.
The 22-karat gold coins were minted to promote the use, and create public awareness, of the Sacagawea Golden Dollars that went into general circulation in 2000. The circulating Golden Dollar has a metal content of manganese brass. Like the circulating coin, the 12 gold proof Golden Dollars feature an image of Sacagawea, the Shoshone Indian woman who assisted Lewis and Clark on their 8,000-mile expedition. These 12 gold coins commemorated the first shuttle flight to be commanded by a woman, USAF Col. (ret.) Eileen Collins.
The 22-karat gold versions of the Sacagawea Golden Dollar are made of .9167 (half-ounce) fine gold.
The U.S. Mint will display the 12 gold proof Sacagawea Golden Dollars that flew aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in July 1999. The 12 gold versions of the circulating Golden Dollars will be unveiled at the American Numismatic Association's World's Fair of Money in Milwaukee, the largest coin show in the nation. Until now, the gold "space coins" have been stored at Fort Knox. They've never been seen in public, and similar gold coins were never sold, making them extremely rare. Although the coins' value has not been established, they are very unique as historic artifacts.
The 22-karat gold coins were minted to promote the use, and create public awareness, of the Sacagawea Golden Dollars that went into general circulation in 2000. The circulating Golden Dollar has a metal content of manganese brass. Like the circulating coin, the 12 gold proof Golden Dollars feature an image of Sacagawea, the Shoshone Indian woman who assisted Lewis and Clark on their 8,000-mile expedition. These 12 gold coins commemorated the first shuttle flight to be commanded by a woman, USAF Col. (ret.) Eileen Collins.
The 22-karat gold versions of the Sacagawea Golden Dollar are made of .9167 (half-ounce) fine gold.
Labels: Gold, Sacagawea-Dollars
